Book index



NOV. 4, W. vM- .BOCK JR BOOK INDEX Fiied July 3, 1951 THE GENERAL EplTLE 0F Patented Nov. 4, i952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE- BOOK INDEX William M. Bock, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 3, 1961, Serial No. 235,060

This invention relates to a book index for enabling a reader to readily locate any desired section or subsection of a book.

Heretofore various book indices have been proposed which have either a plurality of iingerengaging notches formed on the exposed edge of each leaf or sheet of the book, and extensive index provided on one or more leaves located at the front or rear of the book, or a relatively stiff protruding tab fastened to the iirst page of each of the sections or subsections. The clisadvantages of these indices are Well known.

In the notched edge type of index, for example, the width of the margin is materially reduced by reason of the notches, thus impairing the use of the margin for notations by the reader. Furthermore, the appearance of the book is impaired by the notched edge sheets, particularly where the book comprises a large number of sections and subsections.

In the second mentioned type of index, the location of a particular section or subsection of the book requires extensive flipping or manipulating back and forth of the pages thereof and at times becomes a frustrating and awkward operation, particularly where it is desired to quickly locate various selected sections or subsections.

The tab-type index is not readily adapted for use in books wherein the sheets thereof are formed of thin tearable paper. In such instances the possibility of the sheets being accidentally torn when the sheets are flipped is greatly enhanced.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a book index which is readily understood and enables a reader to quickly and uninterruptedly locate a desired section or subsection of the book with the least amount of effort.

It is a further objectof this invention to provide a book index with does not require notching of the edge of a leaf or sheet, thereby preserving the full width of the margin for notations by the reader.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a book index which will not impair the appearance of the book.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a book index which may be readily used with books having the sheets thereof made of very thin tearable paper or other similar type of material without the danger of accidentally tearing the sheets when flipping sheets.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a book index which is simple to use 2 claims. (c1. 283-42) and may be readily incorporated in any book without materially affecting the printing and binding costs thereof.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and'appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, an index is provided for use in a book having the sheets thereof forming sections and subsections arranged in a predetermined sequence. Provided on the front and back faces of each sheet or leaf of the book is a marginal index. Y The index comprises a plurality of indicia arranged in columnar relation. The indicia on the front face of a sheet indicates the number andk sequence of the book sections that follow the particular sheet; whereas, the indicia on the back face of a sheet indicate the number and sequence of the book sections which precede the particular sheet.

To effect location of a selected book section, relative to an exposed sheet the reader places his finger, normally the thumb, on the edge of the sheet adjacent the margin thereof opposite the indicia which designates the selected section. The sheets preceding or following the exposed sheet, depending upon the case, are then vmanipulated or flipped by the reader so as to expose the marginal indices thereof, while the thumb remains in the same relative position with respect to the flipped sheets. Where the selected section precedes the exposed sheet the reader flips the preceding sheets until the bottom of the column of indicia on one of the flipped sheets is disposed adjacent the thumb of the left hand of the reader. Where the selected section follows the exposed sheet the reader flips the following sheets until the top of the column of indicia of one of the flipped sheets is disposed adjacent the thumb of the right hand of the reader. When the end of the column of indicia on one of the flipped sheets is positioned adjacent to the thumb of the reader, depending upon the case, the reader knows the selected section has been located and he may then turn directly to it.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a'front elevational view of a book shown open to one of the early sections thereof.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, but shows the book opened to the section thereof indicated by the thumb of the readers right hand on the margin of the right-hand page shown in Fig. 1`

Fig. 3 is similar to Figs. l and 2, but shows the book opened to one of the latter sections thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, a book IU, incorporating the improved book index, is shown grasped between the right and left hands I I and I2, respectively, of the reader. The book in this instance is the NewV Testament of the Bible. However, it is to be understood of course that the invention is not to be limited thereto but may be readily incorporated in books suchas encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books, directories, and the like wherein the book is divided into various sections, chapters, classes, etc.

The New Testament I0, as is well knownis divided into twenty-seven Books, which for simplicity will hereinafter be referredto' as sections. New Testament is further divided into subsections, called chapters, the number of subsections varying with each section. The New Testament .or Vbook I is formed of a plurality of Yrelatively thin sheets I3 which are arranged in superimposed relation and assembled or bound along one edge I4 thereof in conventional bookform. The flexible sheets are disposed preferably between a flexible protective cover and back Illa and b respectively. Both the frontand back surfaces of each sheet in this instance have printed matter thereon. The printed matter is arranged so that a margin I5 is provided on the outer edge of each sheet. The margin I5 is substantially parallel tov the bound edge I4. Thev margins I5 formed on the front and back surfaces ISa and' I3b of each sheet are of the same width and length and each has located therein acolumn of indicia I'I and I8, respectively. Each of the indicia in the column, with the exception of the top indicia in column I1 and the bottom indicia in column I8, is an abbreviation of one of the Books or sections of the` New Testament and is referred toas the primary indicia.

In column I1, with the exception of the. numeral A which appears at the top thereof vand is referred to as a secondary indicia, the remaining or primary indicia indicate the various sections which follow the exposed page or face of a particular sheet, and substantially the sequence or order in which they are arranged. Column I'I extends from the bottom of the page upwardly; however, the order in which the seotions occur isdetermined by reading down the column. The numeral or secondary indicia A at the head of the column denotes the particular subsection of the section which appears vonthe Yparticular page.

Column I8 ypositioned on the back face I3b or left-hand page of the sheet, as seen in Figs. 1-3, commences at the top of the margin I5 and extends downwardly and terminates at a point in fthe margin corresponding Vto they point where column II commences in themargin on Vpage I3a. Column I8, with thevexception of the lowermost indicia, is formed of primary indicia designating the various sections which precede the page and the order in which they occur. The relative location of the various sections which precede page |319 is determined by readingup column i8. A numeral B, referred to as a secondary indicia, is positioned at the foot or vbottoml of column IS and denotes the subsection which appears on the exposed page-for examplev` in Fig. l, the 19th Chapter of theBook of the Acts of the Apostles. Therelative lengths lof Vcolumns il and I8vary inversely withl respect toone Each of the Books, or `sections,rof the` another as the various sheets of the book are uncovered or exposed. The variations in the relative lengths of columns I'I and I8 are shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In Fig. 1 the book is opened close to the front thereof; in Fig. 2 approximately the center of the book is exposed, and in Fig. 3 the book is opened close to the back portion thereof. The abbreviated indicia of column Il plus the abbreviated indicia of column I8 indicate all ofthe various sections of the book with the exception of the particular section which is exposed to the reader.

To locate a particular section and subsection ofthe book the reader uses the index as follows:

(ayThe reader glances at both columns I' and I8 until he nds the abbreviation for the particular section he is seeking;

(o) Having found the abbreviation of the selectedBook, say in column I1, he then places the thumb 29 of his right hand II along the edge of the'right-hand page I3a `adjacent .thev margin i5 thereof and opposite the location ofthe selected indicia-the section selected, as shown in Fig. Zbeing the Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians;

(c) While the thumb 2G .is held in this relative positonon theedges of the succeeding sheets, they are iipped'or manipulated between the thumb Eiland foreiinger of the right hand so as to `expose the margins thereof until the top of column I'i on one ofthe flipped sheets is .clisposed adjacent the thumb 2%;

(d) When the tcp of column I7 is adjacent the thumb 2Q, the reader continues to manipulate the succeeding` sheets until the numeral or secondary indicia A, corresponding to the desired subsection of .the selectedlsection, is adjacent the thumb 25 of the reader. As shown in Fig. 2, the reader has selected Chapter 3.'

(e) When the desired." subsection of the selected section is located the reader may turn `directly to it.

1f: the selected section precedesthe exposed left-handpage or` sheet, the reader .places the thumb 2I.of his left hand I2 adjacent the relative `position of the abbreviation of the selected section in column IS. The reader then flips or manipulates. they sheets between the thumb and foreiinger of his left hand, while keepingthe thumb 2l in the same relative position,y seas to expose thecclumnated indicia onthe flipped sheets. When the numeral or secondary indicia B appears adjacent the thumb 2 i, reader knows the selected section has been located` and he continues uninterruptedly to manipulate the sheets .until the numeral B corresponding to. the selected subsection appears adjacent the thumb 2l Thus, it will be seen that an easy and convenient Ameans has been provided for a reader to readily locate any ydesired section of the book. 'the improved vbock index does not impair the width or length of the margin formed on'the front and back surfaces of each,Y sheet and thereby affords ample space for the readerto make marginal notations.4 Further advantages obtainedwith the improvedbook index are that the Vappearance of the book is not impaired and that the index` may. be used in books wherein the sheets `thereofare formed of lvery thin, tearabie paper vor other-typeof material.

As heretofore mentioned, theimprovedbook index mayvbe readily adapted for use in other types; of books such' as dictionaries,- enyclope dia-s, etc., which have numerous sections and subsections.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it Will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since further modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such further modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A book having a plurality of sections and subsections arranged in a predetermined sequence, comprising a plurality of flexible sheets arranged in superimposed relation and bound together along one edge thereof and having the free edge thereof opposite said bound edge provided with a margin, and an index positioned substantially within said margin on the opposite faces of each sheet; said index comprising a plurality of primary indicia arranged in columnar relation on an exposed face of a sheet and designating all of the book sections disposed behind said exposed face, the column of primary indicia on one face of a sheet commencing at one end of the margin and terminating at a point intermediate the ends of the margin and the column of primary indicia on the opposite face of a sheet commencing at the other end of the margin and terminating at a point in the margin substantially the same as the terminating point of the column on said one face, and secondary indicia disposed at the inner terminating end of the column of primary indicia and designating the subsection appearing on the exposed face of a sheet; said primary indicia being arranged in the column to correspond to the predetermined sequence of the book sections, the primary indicia positioned at the commencing end of the columnated indicia designating the book section disposed farthest behind the exposed face of a sheet.

2. A book having a plurality of sections and subsections arranged in a predetermined sequence, comprising a plurality of flexible sheets arranged in superimposed relation and bound together along one edge thereof and having the free edge thereof opposite said bound edge provided with a margin, and an index positioned substantially Within said margin on the opposite faces of each sheet, and being concealed from view when said book is closed; said index comprising a plurality of primary indicia arranged in columnar relation on the exposed face of a sheet and designating all of the book sections disposed behind said exposed face, the column of primary indicia on one face of a sheet commencing at one end of the margin and terminating at a point intermediate the ends of the margin and the column of primary indicia on the opposite face of a sheet commencing at the other end of the margin and terminating at a point in the margin substantially the same as the terminating point of the column on said one face, and secondary indicia disposed at the inner terminating end of the column of primary indicia and designating the subsection appearing on the exposed face of a sheet; said primary indicia being arranged in the column to correspond to the predetermined sequence of the book sections; the primary indicia positioned at the commencing end of the columnated indicia designating the book section disposed farthest behind the exposed face of a sheet.

WILLIAM M. BOCK, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 197,345 Denison Nov. 20, 1877 2,288,066 Bloom June 30, 1942 

